IAM Political Action: Support Clean Extension of Payroll Support to Prevent Airline Furloughs

IAM Political Action: Support Clean Extension of Payroll Support to Prevent Airline Furloughs

Sep 14, 2020 | Airlines, American, COVID, Front Page, GOIAM Stories, Hawaiian, MNPL, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized, United | 0 comments

In March, as U.S. COVID-19 cases began rising exponentially, Congress rose to the occasion by enacting the CARES Act to provide assistance to tens of millions of Americans who found their financial security, if not their health, directly imperiled by the pandemic.

Among other things, the CARES Act created the Payroll Support Program (PSP), under which the Treasury Secretary issued $32 billion in grants to airlines and their contractors exclusively to keep their workers on the payroll through September 30, 2020.

But while time marches on, so does the pandemic, Airline workers are facing the worst crisis by far in the industry’s history. Last Wednesday, a major airline put 36,000 workers across the country on notice that they could be furloughed on or after October 1. Other carriers have issued and will issue similar notices.

Please ask your member of Congress to join House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) on a bipartisan letter to House and Senate Leadership, urging them to extend the PSP authorities in the CARES Act through March 31, 2021, and save hundreds of thousands of frontline airline workers’ jobs.

Additional Resources  /// Ask Lawmakers to Support Clean Extension of PSP///  Support the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League

Help Save Thousands of Airline Jobs This Fall

Support a clean extension of the Payroll Support Program for airlines, and help save thousands of airline worker jobs this fall.

Send Lawmakers a Message Now

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Today at 2:00 EST: Top Labor Lobbyist, Hasan Solomon Talks Politics and Airline Work

Today at 2:00 EST: Top Labor Lobbyist, Hasan Solomon Talks Politics and Airline Work

Sep 11, 2020 | Airlines, COVID, Front Page, MNPL, Organizing, Perusals, Safety, Uncategorized, Video | 0 comments

The CARES Act, Payroll Support Extension, Furloughs. There’s a Lot at Stake For Airline Workers This Election Season.

Hasan Solomon is one of the Machinists & Aerospace Union’s fiercest and outspoken advocates in Washington, DC. This week, he sits down with Dave Lehive to lay out the legislative agenda of the IAMAW.

Hasan is the voice of our union on Capitol Hill. He serves as the National Legislative Director for the IAMAW, and in that role he develops and implements our union’s legislative agenda.  District 141 owes Hasan a special debt of gratitude for his tireless advocacy on behalf of airline workers. With his leadership, we have achieved the strongest legal protections for customer service agents from assault and increased rest periods for flight attendants, with language on the FAA Reauthorization Bill of 2018 that was drafted by our own union members and him. His tireless work has ensured that airline workers were included in the CARES Act, providing several months to prepare for pandemic-related job losses in the industry. 

Brother Hasan Solomon is a graduate of Bowie State University and the University of Baltimore School of Law.

He has been recognized by his peers with numerous awards and is regarded as one of the top Trade Union lobbyists on Capitol Hill. He is an extremely passionate and zealous advocate for workers’ rights and a powerful public speaker.

 

Additional Resources /// Donate to the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League

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IAM Members Battle Vast West Coast Wildfires

IAM Members Battle Vast West Coast Wildfires

Sep 11, 2020 | Front Page, GOIAM Stories, Perusals, Uncategorized | 0 comments

Raging wildfires are ripping across the entire west coast, leaving behind a path of smoldering ash and char. Up and down the coast families are being forced to evacuate their homes and scramble to safety. Also increasing are the confirmed reports of IAM members losing everything they own to the fires.

In addition to thousands of IAM members in the path of the West Coast Fires, IAM members are also busy helping to combat destruction from the fires. IAM and NFFE-IAM Federal District 1 firefighters are working day and night to save lives and property.

“Our prayers are with all our members and their families who find themselves within reach of these deadly wildfires,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “Our Union is often called to help cure economic injustices for the oppressed, level the playing field in our democracy, but there is no greater pursuit than helping a Sister and Brother in need. I am appealing to you to help our Brothers and Sisters impacted by contributing to the IAM Disaster relief fund.”

“Our hearts are with all who are dealing with these devastating fires,” said International President Robert Martinez Jr. “I want every member affected by these fires to know their IAM family is here for them and we are willing to help in any way we can. On behalf of the IAM Executive Council, I want to thank our members who have left their families during the midst of a pandemic and put themselves in harm’s way to protect others and work to keep these fires from spreading and wreaking even more havoc. I also encourage anyone with the means to donate to the IAM Disaster Relief Fund and help give assistance to our Brothers and Sisters in need.” 

The IAM Disaster Relief Fund is available for IAM members whose homes have been affected by the wildfires.

If you can, please consider donating to the IAM Disaster Relief Fund.

Every dollar you give to the IAM Disaster Relief Fund goes directly to IAM members and their families in need. Donations are tax deductible. IAM Assistance is a registered IRS 501(3) (c) – Tax ID: 46-2575531.

In conjunction with this occurrence, many face the familiar list of continuing problems associated with, but not limited to; substance abuse and addictions, mental health, stress, anxiety, depression, financial hardship and socioeconomic issues. These serious matters can cause problems by worsening the situation and negatively impacting the quality of life for our members.

If you or your family are battling addiction or need assistance with other EAP issues, please know the IAM has two 24/7 nation-wide helplines.

  • IAM EAP Services can be reached by calling 301-335-0735 or by email iameap@iamaw.org.
  • IAM Addiction Services can be reached by calling 1-888-250-4IAM (4426).

All calls are confidential.

Additional resources /// Story first appeared on GOIAM.org 

 

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IAM Airline Workers Need Action: 23 Days Until Relief Expires

IAM Airline Workers Need Action: 23 Days Until Relief Expires

Sep 9, 2020 | Airlines, American, COVID, Front Page, GOIAM Stories, Hawaiian, MNPL, Perusals, Philippine, Spirit, Uncategorized, United | 0 comments

The airline Paycheck Support Program contained in the CARES Act is set to expire on October 1, 2020. Carriers are making plans on how to deal with its loss, and the outlook doesn’t look good for many IAM members and other airline workers.

American Airlines has announced it will lay off 19,000 workers on October 1. Southwest Airlines is eliminating 35,000 flights from its October schedule, and Air Wisconsin, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, ExpressJet, Hawaiian Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, and United Ground Express have issued Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN). 

TAKE ACTION: Tell your Senators and Representative to support a clean extension of the airline Payroll Support Program

The only hope of staving off mass furloughs is Congress taking action to extend CARES Act protections for airline workers. What we need to save jobs is:

  • Increase PSP funding levels by an additional $32 billion (covering six months);
  • Extend requirements relating to involuntary furloughs, share repurchases, dividend payments, and collective bargaining agreements to March 31, 2021;
  • Require Treasury to immediately disburse funds to every air carrier and contractor that executed a Payroll Support Program Agreement, an amount equal to their current payroll support.

“These are not controversial goals,” said IAM Transportation General Vice President Sito Pantoja. “We already have bipartisan support for a clean extension of the program, and President Trump has also signaled his support. What we need is for Congress to actually start doing its job and take action to save the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of airline and aviation families.”

“The airline industry is in dire need of immediate assistance from Congress,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Their inaction is jeopardizing the futures of all airline workers. The Machinists have been leading this fight from the beginning, and we must continue to keep the pressure on Congress. Do not stop contacting your Representative and Senators until this extension is enacted.”

U.S. Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA) recently led a bipartisan letter to American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, asking the carrier to continue its advocacy for the PSP extension and to keep communities and working families in mind when considering layoffs. Keller also led a separate letter to congressional leadership, highlighting the dire situation of the aviation industry and the need to include an extension of the PSP in future COVID-19 relief legislation.

TAKE ACTION: Tell your Senators and Representative to support a clean extension of the airline Payroll Support Program

 

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Back From Labor Day, We Have Important Work to Do.

Back From Labor Day, We Have Important Work to Do.

Sep 8, 2020 | Front Page, GOIAM Stories, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized | 0 comments

Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the IAM,

For all the changes and hardship 2020 has brought upon us, I know one thing will remain the same—working people like us, the men and women who make North America move—will be offered thanks this Labor Day weekend.

And while I am indeed incredibly grateful for all the sacrifices of our membership, especially during times like these, I can’t help but think that words simply aren’t enough anymore. Our families and our communities, who have put lives and livelihoods at risk during this pandemic and economic disaster, and too many of our own Brothers and Sisters who have become sick and passed away from this terrible disease, deserve more than a pat on the back once a year.

We’re not asking for any special treatment. Our demands—justice and dignity on the job—are essentially the same as they were 138 years ago when a Machinist founded what we now know as Labor Day. And in proud Fighting Machinist tradition, we have gone to the mat each and every day of this crisis for our membership.

As you’ll see in the IAM’s COVID-19 Resource Center, from airlines and aerospace to defense and manufacturing, and every industry in between, this union has been leading the charge fighting for the relief our membership needs and deserves. Just like our members on the frontlines, the IAM is out front protecting our democracy, standing up for racial justice and demanding that working people be prioritized over corporate profit.

But when we see the rich and powerful taking advantage of this crisis to further enrich themselves at the expense of working people, the hollow “thank you” they offer us on Labor Day falls on deaf ears. When political leaders seek to divide, rather than unite, working people, their rhetoric is exposed for what it is—empty words.

Today, with just 59 days until Election Day in the United States, we must each take a hard look at the world we will leave our children and grandchildren. Our membership, in the labor movement’s first-ever rank-and-file presidential endorsement vote, made it clear that we need change.

So, I ask you to get involved and take matters into your own hands. Fight like our future depends on it—because it does. Vote, volunteer and get everyone around you to do the same. Our union’s election year online hub, iam2020.org, is a good place to start.

I know this year has been difficult. Our union is no stranger to preserving through the most challenging of times. Mark my words that our fight will continue and that we will never stop demanding action and a fair shot for every working family.

In solidarity,

Robert Martinez Jr.
IAM International President

Additional Resources  ///  Support the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League

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IAMAW 141 Video Report: Mike Bucci, President of East Boston Local 1726

IAMAW 141 Video Report: Mike Bucci, President of East Boston Local 1726

Sep 4, 2020 | Front Page, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized, Video | 0 comments

Mike Bucci, President of Local 1726 in East Boston

Local Lodge President with the attitude of a Shop Steward and Organizer.

My name is Michael Bucci, President of Local 1726 located in East Boston, Massachusetts. I began to work for the airlines in December 1991, as a part time ramp serviceman for United untill 1996. From there,  I began full time till 2001, then I began my interest in the union in 2007.

It began when my friend Mike Deindia asked me to become a shop steward, until 2013. Then, I ran against the incumbent of the Local Lodge for many years to become the president until the present day. I have had the honor of representing the local many times at the Transportation, Safety, Grand Lodge and District Conferences.

I have also had the opportunity to be trained at the Winpisinger Center for classes specializing in Leadership, Safety, and politics.

The local I represent was charted in 1952. The building was purchased around 1964, by Frank V. Celona, Edward Burke, and Don Mac by the selling of pots and pans out of trailer trucks parked around the city. At this time there were around 2000 members of mechanics and cargo employees. Eddie Burke became the local president,and Don mac was the recording secretary. Frank  became a general chair in 1966, and became a GLR in 1974, from there he rose to assistant railroad coordinator 1990 then in 1996 he became the chief of staff for VP of transportation.The building became known as the Frank Solana building around the 1970s in honor of Frank’s achievements.

Currently, the local represents approximately 900 members consisting of airline mechanics, customer service agents, and fleet service. We currently have members in each state of New England. As the president of the local I currently sit on the states board of machinists consoul. Our website has all current events, charity drives, and local political endorsements sanctioned by the machinstits state council.

The pandemic has a great effect on the local lodge, due to it we have lost members to covid19, and the industry hasn’t seen changes so dramatic since september 11th 2001, when the industry as a whole has changed completely.

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